Embarking on a season of LWL (Life Without Lindsay) for the first time in four seasons, Garden City’s girls soccer team has re-made itself into a cohesive and dangerous contingent.

Even though former four-year varsity star Lindsay Yankasky has departed to extend her pitch career as a freshman at the University of Illinois Purdue Fort Wayne, the Cougars’ line-up is still formidable thanks to a 20-player roster that is balanced and experienced.

“This is an all-around deep team and it’s a smart team,” said Garden City head coach Jeff Szypula, who also calls the shots for the school’s boys soccer program. “We’re not great in any one area, but we’re not weak at any position, either. Without Lindsay this season, I think it creates an opportunity for other girls to step up.”

Szypula noted that his team’s high IQ includes both on- and off-the-field smarts.

“We’ve been all-state all-academic for the past three seasons (minimum 3.3 grade-point average), which is something the girls take pride in,” Syzpula said. “The classroom intelligence carries over to the soccer field in that they pick up on things quickly.”

Garden City placed fifth in the competitive Western Wayne Athletic Conference standings last spring. The Cougars capped their season with a run to the Dearborn High-hosted Division 1 district tournament championship game before losing to the Pioneers, 2-1.

Four players who performed at high levels during that stretch return as captains: juniors Skyler Clendening and Angie Dimopulos; and seniors Chelsea Booker and Alyssa Hurley.

“Chelsea is a three-year varsity player who will start in the mid-field, but is able to play many different positions,” said Szypula. “She’s a very smart player and she works hard.

“Alyssa is a two-year varsity player who will start at an outside mid position. She has very good vision and is a good passer.

“Skyler, who will play mostly center-back, has one of the best throw-ins around. She can throw it from the sideline to the far post if we need her to. She will handle most of our set pieces. She works hard and has an incredible passion for the game.

“Angie is a three-year varsity player and a center-mid. She’s a year-round player and it shows. Her field vision is outstanding and she has a great passion for the game. Angie has great ball-handling skills; I expect her to get a ton of assists this season.”

Anchoring the Cougars’ defense will be returning starting goal-keeper Tatum Spears, a junior who got her first taste of varsity action as a freshman in the team’s district-championship victory over Crestwood in 2014.

“Tatum has a lot of athletic ability,” Szypula noted. “She’s really improved at coming out and challenging forwards on break-aways.”

Backing up Spears will be junior Brooke Collins, whose primary roles will be as one of the team’s leading goal-scorers.

The Cougars’ back line is strong and dependable. Joining Clendening in the back will be sophomore Claire Konopatzki and seniors Samantha Schwesing and Hayley Jacobi.

“Claire is fast, strong and she’s able to man-mark the opponents’ best scorer if we need her to,” said Szypula. “Samantha is a strong player who can challenge forwards; she has a nice right foot, too.”

Garden City’s mid-field is deep and talented. Its mainstays will be Booker, Cassie Leleniewski, Sydney Baker, Tracy June, Alyssa Metcalf Molly Borg and Alexis Horvath, who can also fall back and help on defense.

“Cassie is a very strong player who wins a lot of balls for us in the mid-field,” said Szypula. “She’s very good at winning the ball, settling it and getting it upfield to the forwards.

“Alexis is our only predominantly left-footed player. She has a good feel for the game, especially for a freshman.”

Joining Collins up top will be sophomore Ashley Hahn and freshman Kaitlyn Bovensiep, both of whom have the capability to score double-digit goals.

Szypula is hoping to get key sophomore Alex Sherlock back from an injury toward the latter part of the season.